Expanded-metal fabric



June 15 1926.

N. E. CLARK EXPANDEDMETAL FABRIC Filed Dec. 29, 1922 INVENTQR Norris Elmore Clank, Deceaseo Lida C C'Irk ATTORNEY Patented a... 15, 1926.,

v UNITED STATES.

; 1,588,661 PATENT OFFICE.

NORRIS ELMORE CLARK, DECEASED, DATE OF IPLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT; BY LIDA C. CLARK, EXECUTRIX, OF LAKEVILLE, CONNECTICUT; SAID CLARK ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT S. ALLYN, TRUSTEE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EXPANDED-METAL FABRIC.

Original application filed May 10, 1919, Serial No. 296,087. Divided and this application filed December I 29,1922. Serial No. 609,564.

This invention relates particularly to expanded metal fabrics having ribs and 1s particularly intended to provide a maximum reenforcement fora given weight of metal.

This application is a divisional application from #296,087 filed May 10, 1919. One of the principal objects is to provide a construction in which ordinary metal lath and the like may be ribs of any desire size or shape. Another object is to secure the ribs to the meshwork in a manner which is practical and eifectlye.

Another object is to provide means by which sheets of the fabric may be secured together without using an excess amount of metal. Another object is to provide a construot1on which is stiff or rigid to resist bendin moments along transverse as 'well as longitudinal axes of the fabric. Another object is to tie the ribs together eifectively so as to prevent spreading. Another object is to assure a definite size and permanent shape to the finished sheet.

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of one form of fabric embodying improvements of this invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views showin fragments of two modifications.

igs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views of other modifications.

The expanded metal 10 may be of any suitable type so far as the broad invention is concerned. It is preferred however to use what is commonly termed diamond mesh fabric with the strands 11 and 12 and the bonds 13 arranged edgewise to the .general plane of the fabric and the strands extending transversely of the sheet so that it is stiff and resists pressure tending to bend the sheet along axes parallel to the length of the sheet. Y

The ribs 14, 15 and 16 are perferably relatively high or deep and have inclined spaced provided with projecting apart sides 17 and each is preferably prohead are preferably brought together at 21 to form lateral channels to receive the cement or concrete and may be secured together at this point in any suitable manner.

It will be seen that this construction assures stiffness in two directions at right angles to each other since the longitudinal IlbS afi'ord stiffness to resist bending along transverse axes and the meshwork resists bending along lines parallel to the ribs. Additional strength may be provided by transverse rods 22 riveted to the side ribs and passing through the central rib or ribs as the case may be. These rods will not only hold the ribs together but will prevent them from tipping over.

- The side rib 14 preferably has an enlarged socket-like head 23 adapted to receive a smaller T-shaped head like head 24 of an adjacent sheet. The head of the central rib 16 is somewhat larger than the head 24 and somewhat smaller than the head 23 so as to afford substantially the same strength as the combination of the head 24 with a head 23 of an adjacent connected sheet.

Additional rigidity may be secured by connecting the meshwork 10 to the rods 22 at intervals for instance by means of ties Some types of expanded meshwork have a tendency to shrink in a direction at right angles to the length of the strand due to the initial stresses set up in the metal in the process of manufacture. By the use of my invention it will be noted that the strands are connected by ribs extending at right angles to them so that there is no possibility of the sheet contracting or expanding longitudinally except of course due to temperature changes or exterior stresses. By extending the meshwork across the space inside of each rib, the sides of the rib are prevented from spreading.

In the form shown in Figure 3 the flange of the rib is slitted at 32 and the tangs or lugs 30 are bent over to embrace the strand 31 and lock the parts togetherin a simple manner.

In the form shown in Fig.4 the meshwork sections 33 are secured to the'flanges of a channel like rib by means of clips 34 which also tend to prevent the flanges'from spreadin g.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, the meshwork 36 is suitably secured to the rib 37 which rib is shown formed of two parts 37 suitably secured together. This rib may be provided with oaenings 38 for the cement. The two parts 0 the rib are of channel-like form, the flanges 39 being secured to the meshwork and the other flanges provided with depending, edges or shoulders 40 for providing additional anchorage in the concrete or cement.

It will be understood of course that ribs of any of the forms herein shown may be secured together by cross-rods and the sides of the ribs of any of the forms may be secured together by welding at intervals.

The ribs at the edges of the sheet may be preferably of single thickness as indicated in Figure 1 so that when combined with the edge rib of another sheet or with a separately formed rib-like member the strength of the combined element will be substantially the same as the strength of an interior rib without using any excess metal.

By forming the ribs separately from the expanded meshwork it is possible to use. different thicknesses of metal and different shapes or sizes of ribs with the same lath or expanded section so as to produce structures having any desired distribution of metal which cannot be done where the ribs and meshwork are integral.

I claim 1. A metallicreenforcing fabric comprising an expanded section and separately formed relatively deep narrow ribs of double thickness secured thereto at intervals and having laterally projecting shoulders and means between the shoulders and the opposite edges of the ribs for securing the walls of the ribs from spreading.

2. A metallic reenforcing fabric comprising an expanded section, deep ribs secured thereto, rods connecting said ribs and stay members connecting said rods to said expanded section between the ribs.

3. A concrete reenforcement comprising a meshwork sheet, a single thickness flanged ribbed member secured to each side edge thereof, one of which has a head and the other of which has a socket adapted to interlock with a similar head and a flanged ribbed member secured to said sheet intermediate the edges and having a head intermediate the size of the heads of the edge ribbed members, the strands of the meshwork sheet being arranged edgewise and extending transversely of the sheet.

4. A concrete reenforcement comprising an expanded metal sheet having strands arranged edgewise and extending transversely of the sheet and single thickness ribs secured to the opposite edges of said sheet and extending longitudinally of said sheet, one of said ribs having a T-shaped head and the receive a similar head, and tie rods-extending transversely of the sheet and connecting the upper portions of said ribs.

5. A concrete reenforcement comprising an expanded metal sheet having strands ex tending transversely and ribs secured to opposite edges of said sheet and extending longitudinally, one of said ribs having a T-shaped head and the other rib having a socket adapted to receive a head of a similar rib, a rib secured to said sheet interme diate the edges thereof and having spaced apart flanges and a T-shaped head, and tie rods extending transversely of said sheet and connecting said ribs.

6. A concrete reenforcement comprising an expanded metal sheet, a rib at each edge thereof each rib having .a web extending at substantially right angles to said sheet, an inclined portion connected therewith and a flange extending therefrom and secured to said sheet, one of said ribs having a head and the other rib having a socketvportion adapted to receive a similar head, and rods connecting the Web portions of said ribs.

7. A concrete reenforcement comprising an expanded metal sheet, a rib at each edge thereof each rib having a web extending at substantially right angles to said sheet, an inclined portion connected therewith and a flange extending therefrom and secured to said sheet, one of said ribs having a head and the other rib having a socket portion adapted to receive a similar head, said sheet havlng strands extending transversely of said ribs, and rods connecting the Web portions of said ribs.

8. A concrete reenforcement comprising an expanded sheet, ribs having flanges secured to said sheet'adjacent the edges thereof, the edges of said sheet extending beyond said flanges and substantially to the center of said ribs, and a rib secured to said sheet intermediate the edges thereof and having a channel portion bridged by said sheet.

9. A concrete reenforcement comprising an expanded sheet, ribs having flanges secured to said sheet adjacent the edges thereof, the edges of said sheet extending substantially to the center of said ribs, a rib secured to said sheet intermediate the edges thereof and having a channel portion bridged by said sheet, and rods securing said ribs together.

LIDA C. CLARK, Easecutrz'ar of Norris Elmore Clark, deceased.

other rib having a socket portion adapted to 

